Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs split on final day in desert
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.- In what was a Sunday doubleheader, the Fresno State softball team was edged 8-3 by Loyola Marymount and outlasted Cal State Northridge 3-1 during the final game of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at Big League Dreams.
At the end of the weekend stretch, the `Dogs own a 12-3 overall record heading into the fourth week of tournament play. The Bulldogs entered the tournament unbeaten before snapping a 10-game win streak against No. 12 Oklahoma (3-2) and rallied past Northwestern (6-4) in an eight-inning battle prior to a 9-0 loss against No. 7 Oregon earlier in desert classic.
The Lions were off to a hot start after opening the game scoring one run on two hits in the top of the first inning as senior Hannah Harris drew her fourth start in the circle for Fresno State. Three additional members -- Taylor Langdon (1.0) and Kira McKechnie (0.1) -- made an appearance on the rubber as Harris (2-2) became the pitcher of record, tossing a leading 5.2 innings.
Bulldog catcher Paige Gumz led the `Dogs going 2-for-3 against LMU after giving the team its first hit of the game on a single up the middle in the bottom of the second. Junior outfielder Kierra Willis added her second multi-RBI game on a two-run blast that trimmed the Lion's lead to one run heading into the sixth.
Loyola Marymount enhanced their lead with two runs in the top of the fourth before the Bulldogs cut their deficit by one during a two-out rally in bottom of the inning. Along with Willis, freshman designated player Morgan Howe was the only additional Bulldog with an extra base hit as she scored a run on a ball through the right side.
Loyola Marymount relinquished one or more runs in the remaining three innings including three home runs to leave the `Dogs trailing by five. The Lions capped their weekend stretch against the Bulldogs after facing two deficits to Mountain West foes Boise State (5-4, 8 innings) and Colorado State (4-3). Loyola Marymount left the Nutter Classic with two additional wins over Oregon State (2-0) and Bethune Cookman (5-2), and is 9-6 overall.
Fresno State's long ball pushed them past Cal State Northridge in the second game of the day. Senior leadoff Bria Kennedy (3-for-3) crushed two solo shots and freshman Dominique Jackson secured the lead with her fifth home run of the season.
Senior Jill Compton (7-1) set the tone in the circle as she opened the game with a strikeouts and fanned a total of five Matadors over seven innings pitched. Compton held CSUN to just one hit through five innings and allowed only one run to help the team to its 12th victory of the season.
The Sunday evening matchup featured a tied score for only one inning as the Matadors collected a home run in the top of the fourth.
CSUN was coming into the final game of tournament with a 2-2 weekend record after being topped by No. 7 Oregon (14-3) and Utah (3-1) and outdoing MW opponents San Diego State (5-4) and Boise State (9-4). The Matadors are 8-7 on the season.
Up Next
The `Dogs early-season test continues next week (March 4-6) at the annual CSUF Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. Fresno State will take on Northwestern again on Friday and continues with contests against No. 24 Baylor, Wisconsin, Oregon State and No. 25 California.
Stay Up To Date
Fresno State Athletics continues striving to meet the needs of Bulldog fans around the county, therefore providing several outlets to follow the Dogs' journey in 2016. Stay up-to-date with the latest news via Twitter (@FresnoStateSB), Facebook (Fresno State Softball), Instagram (@fresnostatesoftball) and Snapchat (FresnoStateSB). A full recap and final results can be found at GoBulldogs.com following each competition.
Come game day, a live stat feed of all home games can be found on StatBroadcast and GameTracker. The Red Wave can watch live on the Mountain West Network or listen on ESPN 790 AM "The Deuce" during select games. Please note, all broadcast schedules are tentative and subject to change.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 "The Deuce."
